What are Nits?

Nits are the eggs of head lice and are usually the most visible sign of infestation. A louse attaches each egg to the base of a single human hair shaft. Live nits are usually brown in color and are very well camouflaged in hair. Once they hatch, a white shell remains, which may be easier to spot. The lice themselves are incredibly difficult to see, because they are opaque, and can be quite difficult to spot with the naked eye. Check for nits behind the ears, or in the hair at the nape of the neck, where high numbers often occur. While a visual inspection may be enough to find nits, a more thorough inspection can be done by wetting the child’s hair and using conditioner before running a fine-toothed comb through his or her hair.